diff --git a/tools/sr_assembly/velveth_wrapper.py b/tools/sr_assembly/velveth_wrapper.py
index ca6c33d48b0..bccf8f2e11c 100644
--- a/tools/sr_assembly/velveth_wrapper.py
+++ b/tools/sr_assembly/velveth_wrapper.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ def __main__():
         proc = subprocess.Popen(args=cmdline, shell=True, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
         returncode = proc.wait()
         # get stderr, allowing for case where it's very large
-        stderr = ''
+        stderr = b''
         buffsize = 1048576
         try:
             while True: